Australia Zoo

I woke up early this morning and finished my must-do daily work before 7:30am and then decided, “Enough!” I was determined that this Sunday would be more than blog work, poop scooping and laundry. I wanted to go for a walk at the Australia Zoo. John worked all night and didn’t go to bed until 6am so I planned to go by myself.

I did a load of laundry, piddled around and then went to take a shower. As I was getting dressed, John rolled over in bed and said, “Are you going out?”

“Yes, I’m going to go to the zoo and take my camera,” I said.

“WITHOUT ME???”

Guardians of the Gate

“Oh, I thought you were going to sleep but I’d love you to come with me.” Who can relate to going somewhere with someone when they’re tired or worse, cranky? He’s nearly always in a good mood so I have no complaints, but… First he needed breakfast and then he had to find his shoes and then he needed to put his car in the garage and then he couldn’t find the keys and then he wanted to know where my hat was. We were finally on our way and only needed to stop for sunscreen.

Want a camel ride?

The Australia Zoo, the one created by Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter (Crikey!) is only 20 minutes from our house in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. The house he built t store his big exploration boat is at the end of our neighborhood and it’s where Russell Crowe stays when he’s in town. The zoo is a great place to bring a camera and go for a long walk. We have yearly passes because it only costs $24 more than a one-day ticket for locals.

Red Pandas

Every time we go we start off in a different section but we always end up at the kangaroo enclosure and then we visit the koalas. Today we started off where the tigers live. Everything is beautifully decorated from the statues to the plant material.

Steve Irwin wanted the different parts of the zoo to look like the part of the world where the animals come from, including the plants.

Bamboo that creaks and clacks.

I will admit we were both disappointed with the tigers. There was only one so it wasn’t tigers plural, way in the back and not much else to look at. We couldn’t take a photo because the windows were so scratched.

Big Roots!

We did like the statues that the art department at the zoo created mostly from chicken wire and concrete.

Spooky Bas Relief

We didn’t take the shuttle but walked to the wetlands where we saw some beautiful birds, then the road dead-ended at the kangaroos.

Brolgas (also called Australian Cranes)

There are two kangaroo sections – one is for the red kangaroos which are all ladies because the boys can be up to 7 feet tall and can hop over the fence. The guide once told us that the boys come to visit on their birthdays. Guess what men want on their birthday? All species are the same. Cute. The other section is for the gray kangaroos where they also have vending machines for food pellets.

Hey, be quiet, can’t you see I’m sleepin’ over here?

The kangaroos are very tame and will let visitors pet and feed them. They like patty feedies. We even saw a wallaby on top of the roof and the poor little fella couldn’t get down.

These bad boys pack some big teeth!

By this time I’d been walking for an hour and a half and I was ready to come back home and have lunch but not before a quick stroll by the crocodiles and then a quick visit with the koalas. Often, all you’ll see is a koala sleeping in the crotch of a tree but today they were all very active. Hey, let’s all sit on daddy’s head!

They’re going to sit on daddy’s head, just wait.

Do you like zoos? I like this one because there aren’t any cages and everything is as clean as a whistle.

Get offa my head!

When I tell John that I think koalas are really cute he always says the same thing, “Really? they stink and they pee and poop on your head. No thanks.” Seriously, how could anyone resist this face?

You like this pose, Lady?

Now just so this fits in with the food theme. This was dinner last night. Pork chops sous vide with an apple and onion cider sauce.

Comments

Going to the zoo is one of my absolute favourite things to do – unfortunately, our local zoo leaves a lot to be desired, especially now that I’ve seen this! I had no idea Steve Irwin had created a zoo, it looks amazing and your pictures are gorgeous! What a wonderful way to spend a day.

Steve Irwins father Bob started the zoo and when he had it the zoo was very rustic. Teri is American and knew how good the zoo could be and she and Steve set out to create something wonderful. She continues to run Australia Zoo with her two children. They live at the zoo. They keep the house at the end of our neighborhood for visiting friends.

I remember when I first moved to Knoxville, Tennessee and they had the worst zoo ever. Animals were in small cages, no habitats and I hated it. Then it was completely transformed into a world-class zoo and I loved going.

I don’t think anyone grows out of going to the zoo. We also have yearly passes to the Adelaide zoo and like to pop along occasionally. Looks like you’re getting your money’s worth out of the sous vide machine!

One day I am going to go the zoo. Honestly I have lived here for more than two years now and still not been. I have heard great things and those photos are selling it to me to get off my ass and just go.

You should. You and the baby would have such a good time. The season pass is $99 which is a lot but as close as you are, it would be worth it. Bring a picnic, sit on the grass, watch the kangaroos hop.

I love visiting zoos but have not been to this one. We have passed the entrance a few times but never made the time to pop in. Thank you for visiting and sharing your photographs. The statues are amazing and every exhibit is hit or miss as to how the animals are behaving or not behaving for a photographic section. It is a very natural zoo and feels like it has a warm environment 😀

It looks like a template for what all zoos should be like. I love koala’s too – and kangaroos. There’s a zoo here in Shanghai but I’m too scared – apparently there was a dog in an enclosure last year they were passing off as a lion I kid you not.

Visiting the zoo brings out the child in all of us. Great photos and the koalas are sweet even though they are stinky. I love how nature finds it way around even the cement. Roots of the rubber trees grow that that in HK as well. Glad you got a day out of the kitchen. Take care,
BAM

The Australian Zoo is so picturesque! I love all the sculptures all around – so so gorgeous! The Atlanta Zoo isn’t quite as lovely as this – what a legacy the Crocodile Hunter left behind!
Oh, BTW, Maureen – please pass this on to your hubs – I just purchased Easy Recipe Plus and it rocks! It automatically updated ALL my ziplist recipes – I didn’t have to do anything -thank you!

First off… I want to know what time you get up to have your must-do list completed by 7:30 am!!

Second…more importantly, I realized that it has been forever since I just took off and enjoyed my day – and have not been to the zoo in forever. You’ve inspired me, I love your shots of all the animals. What a lovely day you had, weather-wise and with your hubby…tho it took a bit longer for him to get going 🙂

What a great zoo! Everywhere we visit, we almost always go to the local zoo — just love them. We’re lucky that here in St. Louis we have an outstanding one. One of these days I’ll make it to Australia. And visit that zoo. 🙂

Gone are the days when I could do a 2-3 hr hike through the ‘local’ zoo (even if means crossing an international border to visit). I could barely stand up during the half hour ceremony for Remembrance day in Canada on Tuesday. So, I appreciate a chance to see your pictures…even of the pooing/peeing koalas. Like with babies, it’s amazing what we put up with when they’re little and cutre. 🙂

That’s a lovely dinner plate. I bought some lamb chops today and thought of NewZealand/Australia as that’s where it came from

I went to the Taronga zoo here in Sydney last month very excited since I was visiting a zoo after years. But it was so disappointing since most animals were either sleeping, hiding under a tree or looking away from the public. When I was uploading the photos on FB, I realised all the photos had one thing in common. The backs (lol).
It is so lovely to stare at the Koala in the face in your post. Great photos. And I love your dinner too…YUM!

It looks like you had an amazing time! We have several zoos here in New York but they’re no fun to go to right now when it’s so cold! The Australia Zoo looks breathtaking though, what a great day trip!

I love going to the zoo, and this one is on my list to do of zoos around the world, it sounds fantastic and a really pleasant way to spend the day. Lovely photos of the animals and the koalas are so cute 😀

A wellkept zoo is one of my very favourite places to be . . . am forever ‘fostering’ animals at Taronga and am a member there – OK, love gorillas and chimps: the child in me! Yet have never been to the Australia Zoo and, next time up, this will certainly change. Glad the place continues to be of its obvious quality after Steve I’s demise. Koalas: adore them – they bite as well as poo and pee but, as you say, just look at their faces . . . . Oh, liked your evening meal also 🙂 !

I’ve never been to Australia Zoo. I do like how none of the animals are in cages and I wish that was how it is at all zoos. Steve Irwin was such a visionary and he achieved so much in such a short time. And every cent he earned he poured back into conservation and the care and protection of animals. I so wish he was still around today because I wonder what he’d be up to. I’m glad John joined you at the zoo – even though he missed some sleep, I’m sure the day was therapeutic in other ways xx

G’day! I LOVE Australia Zoo and thanks for making me smile today Maureen as they always seem to pick me for their live shows as the COO-COO! 🙂
When next in your area, would love to revisit and Steve meant and means A LOT to me…cried for three days straight!
Cheers! Joanne

Oh, my goodness, Maureen. Grrreat photos. I’m going scrolling back up and going on a little pinning party. I didn’t realize Steve Irwin created the zoo. I imagine it is one of Australia’s biggest tourist attractions…This Ninja Baker is trying to travel to Australia now without being in the air for 14 hours. BTW Impressed to that you actually get through your to-do list =)

LOL I have certain things that must be done every day. They don’t take a huge amount of time but they must be done. Once those are out of the way, I can slack off if I want. 🙂 You must come to Australia. The flight IS the shits but once you’re here, you’re fine in a couple of days. Worth every minute.

I love Australia zoo! We were there when the tigers first arrived and they are beautiful. One of them was playing in the water with a staff member and swatted the keeper- it looked just like my cat when I accidentally annoy it. There was blood everywhere and the keeper instantly started punching the tiger right in the nose, one fist after the other. The rest of the keepers sprang into action- some distracting the other tigers while some shooed the cranky one to a separate part of the pen. What really was amazing though was how the (not as seriously hurt as the water made it look) keeper came over to the tiger and reassured it that everything was fine. They bonded again before he left the enclosure. We were really impressed with how the situation was handled and how the staff were concerned with the animals welfare as well as their own xox